Playing Style of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor

Liu Lu

Music School of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China

Keywords: Mozart, “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, Classicism, Playing Style.

Abstract: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, a great musical artist in Europe created by Mozart, has unique and

contagious art style. In “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, Mozart used the playing feature of double

exposition; meanwhile, minor was adopted to form tragic atmosphere, deepening hierarchy of feelings and

richness of expression.

1 INTRODUCTION

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a talented musician

among the best European classical music composers.

A series of musical works created by Mozart,

including piano concertos, are all classical music

examples of European classicism. These musical

works are still popular, presented by various

musicians. Mozart has a high degree of enthusiasm

and talent for music creation, thus his musical works

were equipped with lots of musical art forms. The

classical musical instruments violin and piano were

favored by Mozart. He created music with various

genres based on violin and piano, including

serenade, symphonies and sonatas, etc., promoting

late European music of classicism to a new upsurge.

“Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” is a classical

one in Mozart's numerous musical works. Its

inherent characteristic and narrative style of music is

formed through unique playing style. Mozart

devoted much effort in “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor”, with relevant experience of musical

creation. Therefore, “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor” has distinctive features in playing style with

more abundant feelings, which is worth in-depth

appreciation and analysis.

“

PIANO CONCERTO NO. 20 IN

D MINOR” AND ITS PLAYING

STYLE

There are not much works of piano concerto created

by Mozart. “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” is a

concerto composed of three movements, consistent

with traditional European classical music in

structure. In the first movement, Mozart emphasized

on playing the music with Allegro; atmosphere

could be gradually formed through music of the

band, conveying inner feelings and thought of

Mozart. Especially, a dark atmosphere would be

gradually shaped with the playing style, thus

influencing audiences who listen to the piano

concerto. The second part of theme melody mainly

inherits the dark atmosphere created in the first part.

An abortive and contemplative sadness arises out

from the dark atmosphere, as a personal self

dialogue with the soul. The playing form of personal

monologue generates a unique sadness in “Piano

Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, especially with

dramatic sound effects.

The dignified music style is a unique playing

style of Mozart in “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor”. Entering the second movement, Mozart

makes the music into romantic atmosphere to

express deep inner feelings, manifesting soft and

gentle inner world of people. However, this playing

style is different from precious musical works of

Mozart. Precious piano works of Mozart are

relatively positive in emotional coloring, while

“Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” has deeply

shown a feeling of sadness. The soft playing in the

second movement eases tension of listeners arose in

the first movement to a certain extent. However, the

playing method, transforming dark and gloomy

atmosphere to soft emotional atmosphere, breaks

composition features of traditional European piano

concerto. The breakthrough makes “Piano Concerto

No. 20 in D Minor” more classic.

In the third movement of “Piano Concerto No.

20 in D Minor”, the playing returns to tense and

233

Lu L.

Playing Style of Mozartâ

Zs Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor.

DOI: 10.5220/0006023002330235

In Proceedings of the Information Science and Management Engineering III (ISME 2015), pages 233-235

ISBN: 978-989-758-163-2

233

dignified style as the first movement, and it is

different from previous musical works of Mozart.

Relaxed and soft playing style in the second

movement stops abruptly with stagnation. This is a

creative playing style completely subverting

tradition. In a word, Mozart has a very special

breakthrough in playing style of “Piano Concerto

No. 20 in D Minor”.

3 PLAYING FEATURES OF

MOZART IN “PIANO

CONCERTO NO. 20 IN D

MINOR”

Mozart conducted innovations in methods and

techniques of piano playing in “Piano Concerto No.

20 in D Minor”. Thus, “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor” has lots of distinctive features.

3.1 Multi-exposition Classical Playing

Features

First of all, Mozart focused on inheritance of

traditional playing in piano concerto of European

classism. In the Baroque era, three-stage playing

structure was adopted in traditional concerto, using

Allegro in initial movement and final movement,

with Adagio in the middle part. In arrangement of

playing instruments, classical European music in the

Baroque era integrated solo, concert and ensembles,

promoting playing of musical instruments to have

clear priorities and hierarchy. In “Piano Concerto

No. 20 in D Minor”, Mozart absorbed the art of

arrangement in traditional European classism.

Moreover, he integrated creating ideas of personal

music creation and playing practice rather than

blindly following traditional art forms. In the first

movement of “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”,

Mozart adopted two expositions for playing, which

was a breakthrough in terms of single exposition in

traditional piano concerto. Band playing, concerto

and solo were expanded according to needs. In the

first exposition, band playing stopped in homophony

part; in the second exposition, piano solo was firstly

adopted, then transferred into piano concerto.

Mozart had adjusted the objective relationship

between musical tonality and playing in “Piano

Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, thus the melody

became dynamic music material. Therefore,

different kinds of melody could be connected in

music art space created by “Piano Concerto No. 20

in D Minor”. Meanwhile, features of musical scale

and tone cluster in quick play were emphasized in

“Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”. Mozart

focused on artistic effects of tone cluster in the

playing. The rapid presentation of tone cluster

required high degree of playing skills. In the first

movement of “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”,

Mozart achieved feelings expression through

elaborate and gorgeous scale. In the second

movement of Mozart, two segments of singing were

adopted to show characteristics of piano concerto.

Regardless of changes in concerto forms, or

imitation of playing style from Sonata, Mozart

remained consistent in homophony of the piano

concerto. A sad and tense emotional atmosphere was

presented through main playing instruments. The

final movement returned to this emotional field once

again, indicating imaginative playing talent of

Mozart.

3.2 Creating Atmosphere with Minor

Playing

Mozart also emphasized tonality of piano concerto

in “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” with

creation in art form. In precious piano concertos of

Mozart, C Major was often used to create solemn

atmosphere and more powerful momentum; F Major

was adopted to exhibit thriving universe, thus

achieving expression of surging feelings. However,

in other piano concerto works, Mozart used some

small tonality to better create unique dramatic

playing effects. “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”

mainly focused on expressing tension, anxiety and

soft features in natural disposition, thus the basic

tonality d Minor was used to provide new

atmosphere. In “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”,

small tonality deeply shaped a tense and sad

atmosphere. Through use of small tonality, “Piano

Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” was filled with

struggles faced in lives and darkness of inner world.

Tragic effect in deep human heart was rendered,

which was not very common in other piano

concertos of Mozart. Mozart had attempted to create

tragic atmosphere in other Minor piano concertos for

artistic expression of gray human inner world.

However, in “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”,

Mozart had unique expression and understanding in

shaping artistic atmosphere. Especially, precious

piano concertos of Mozart were optimistic and

relaxed. In stark contrast, “Piano Concerto No. 20 in

D Minor” deeply presented tragic atmosphere with

huge scenes, which was the result of Mozart’s

ideological transformation in musical art.

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3.3 Symphonic Style and Theatricality

In “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”, Mozart

emphasized penetration and cooperation of

theatricality and symphonic style. Mozart created

“Le Nozze di Figaro” while creating “Piano

Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”. The symphonic

features of the former had profound impacts on the

latter. In “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”,

Mozart combined theatricality and symphonic style

and highlight this feature. Thus, the expression of

personal feelings of inner world had deep hierarchy

and richness. Mozart also focused on some solo with

dramatic effects. Solo possesses showy

characteristics to make hearing more concentrated.

Theme of the piano concerto can be deepened with

narrative effect of orchestral music. The strong unity

of opposites reflected superb piano playing skills of

Mozart. Mozart did not completely follow playing

ways of traditional classical piano concerto.

Especially, he did not necessarily present artistic

expression through development of music. Instead,

band play was introduced to form a concert with

symphonic features. This way of playing is an

important feature of “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor”.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” is one of

Mozart’s outstanding piano concertos in terms of

playing art. Mozart created a unique way of playing

in “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor” to promote

development of piano concerto, thus making piano

concerto become a music form with artistic

romance. Although influenced by creative concept

of European classical music, Mozart had not entirely

lost personal style and features. In “Piano Concerto

No. 20 in D Minor”, Mozart showed his own artistic

expression in musical art. Unique atmosphere is

formed through mutual switch between multiple

play modes; expression of personal feelings is rich

in hierarchy, making feelings richer and more vivid

in piano concerto. “Piano Concerto No. 20 in D

Minor” has become unique classic music in

European music history. Therefore, in-depth

research on artistic features of “Piano Concerto No.

20 in D Minor”, especially on its playing style, can

promote better understanding of Mozart's artistic

ideas.

REFERENCES

Jin Hui, 2009 (1): 147-148. Romantic theme—Mozart

“piano concerto in D minor” and art of playing,

Drama and Film Journal.

Wang Lili, 2011 (10): 35-40. Mozart: piano concerto No.

20 in D minor (K.466), Music life.

Liu Jiatian, 2011 (03): 115-121. Tragic features of Mozart

“piano concerto in D minor”, Journal of Mudanjiang

Teachers College (Philosophy Social Sciences

Edition).

Playing Style of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor

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Playing Style of Mozartâ

Zs Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor

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